AP-Orissa border sealed, vehicle check intensified

Hyderabad, Mar 26: Police have sealed the Orissa-Andhra border and are conducting intensive vehicle checks following Friday's attack by about 400 Naxals on the small town of R Udayagiri, which killed three jawans and injured two.

Orissa police suspect Naxals, receiving training from CPI (Maoists) at jungle camps of Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, might have crossed over to Orrisa to unleash terror.

Police sources here today said that North Bureau of the Andhra Orissa Border Zonal Committee (AOBZC) of Maoists, which operated in both the states, was suspected to be involved in the attack.

They said the AOBZC, formed in 2001, had gained strength in Orissa in recent years. A special committee was also established.

When a similar raid took place in Koraput district in Orissa in 2004, nearly 200 Naxalites had participated. At the time, the AOBZC and the military committee picked up active members from all dalams in Srikakulam division (AP) and Basandara division(Orissa).

The police have intensified combing operations in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts and sealed certain routes on the border.

Security has been tightened in all the police stations along the border including Bathili, Kottur and Dhonbavi in Srikakulam district.

Some routes in Vizianagaram district have also been sealed.

Recently on March 24, over 200 armed Naxalites took over R Udayagiri town and went on a rampage, attacking the police station, Sub-jail, OSAP camp, police barrack, Treasury office, Tahasil office, Inspection Bungalow and other government establishments.

They shot dead two jawans and kidnapped the Officer-in-Charge of R Udayagiri police station and Jail Superintendent after they bombed the jail and released 37 inmates.

UNI